13 March, 2013

Shute Harbour Marina

We
are encouraged to comment on the proposed $252 million Shute Harbour Marina in
the Whitsundays when the Coordinator-General releases the project’s
supplementary environmental impact statement (SEIS) on the 16 March 2013.

One
had six weeks to comment on the SEIS for a project.

Coming
on the back of the approval of the Ella Bay project and following closely on
the heels of the Great Keppel Island project approval only a week ago, there is
no doubt that the Queensland Government is driving forward tourism
towards a new era in Queensland.

Shute
Harbour marina in the current development proposal includes:

·395 marina berths

·Retirement resort (70 apartments)

·Resort hotel (109 suites)

·Managed resort (52 lots)

·Community cyclone shelter

·Indigenous cultural centre

The
SEIS followed the release of the original environmental impact statement (EIS)
in November 2008 and represented a significant change in the size and scope of
the project.

“The
proponent, Shute Harbour Marina Development Pty Ltd, was required to
provide the SEIS to address a number of issues raised during the public
consultation on the original EIS

Issues
addressed in the SEIS include the size of the original marina development,
impact on marine traffic, and the location of the marina access channel.

The
release of the supplementary environmental impact statement is an opportunity
for the community to have its say on whether these issues have been adequately
addressed.